Besides also functions as an adverb, meaning 'as well', 'furthermore'
or 'anyway'. It is often used to introduce an afterthought. Consider
these examples:

'It's too late to start a round of golf now. We shall never
finish before dark. Besides, it's starting to rain.'

'He doesn't have very much money and he doesn't have very many
prospects. Besides, he's far too young to think of getting
married.'

toward
- towards

What
about towards and toward? One of my own students was
worried that there might be similar pitfalls in store for her when
using these prepositions. Well, I can re-assure all of you that these
prepositions can be used quite interchangeably and that there is no
difference in meaning. The only slight difference in usage is that
toward is perhaps more characteristic of American English and towards
more usual in British English. Toward or towards means
'in the direction of':

'Can you see that light over there?' 'I think it's coming towards
us.'

'There are always more mosquitoes in the air toward evening.
Have you noticed?'